Top 5 Ranked Horses for the Betfred Derby
Top 5 Ranked Horses for the Betfred Derby
All the leading Betfred Derby contenders, one of the most prestigious Graded Stakes in the UK, including City Of Troy and Ambiente Friendly, remain in contention for the Epsom Classic following the five-day forfeits on Monday. The Tom Clover-trained Tabletalk, a recent winner at Chelmsford, has been supplemented at £75,000, with James Doyle booked to ride.
Market leader City Of Troy heads Aidan O’Brien’s team, aiming to bounce back from his 2000 Guineas disappointment. Joining him are Leopardstown Derby Trial winner Los Angeles and outsider Euphoric. Although O’Brien indicated these might be his only three runners, he has also left in Illinois, French 2000 Guineas fourth Diego Velazquez, and Portland.
The Derby Stakes, often called the Derby or Epsom Derby, is a prestigious Group 1 flat horse race in England for three-year-old colts and fillies. Held annually on the first Saturday of June at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey, the race covers a distance of 1½ miles (2,423 meters).
Established in 1780, it is Britain’s richest flat horse race and the crown jewel of the five Classics, earning the nickname “Blue Riband” of the turf. The Derby is also the central race in the historic British Triple Crown, flanked by the 2000 Guineas and the St Leger, though few horses attempt all three today due to evolving racing and breeding practices.
Here is the BUSR analysis of Betfred Derby’s stallions, so your bet on horses can be more profitable.
CITY OF TROY
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Rating: 124
City Of Troy’s reputation hinges on which version shows up: the exceptional two-year-old champion or the underperformer from the 2000 Guineas. O’Brien partially blamed himself for the colt’s poor showing, suggesting he might have treated him with too much respect in the build-up. However, the horses City Of Troy dominated as juvenile, like Haatem and Alyanaabi, and performed well in the Guineas. O’Brien’s past success in turning around Auguste Rodin after a Guineas disappointment provides hope. His odds have improved since his return, with many willing to overlook his lackluster reappearance.
“For us, I’m not sure we’ve ever sent a horse to the Derby with as much ability as this. If we can get him to come out of those gates and everything to work properly for him, then we can have him in the right place.”, added O’Brien.
ANCIENT WISDOM
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Rating: 115
Ancient Wisdom thrives on soft ground, evident from his wins in wet conditions. His return in the Dante was underwhelming, but connections insist he needed the run. His breeding suggests he can handle the Derby trip, but the quick turnaround and weather conditions will be critical.
DANCING GEMINI
Trainer: Roger Teal
Rating: 113
Epsom seems a natural fit for Dancing Gemini, given his illustrious lineage. However, despite his impressive speed, he hasn’t shown a clear inclination for middle distances. His best performance came as a runner-up in the French 2000 Guineas, a race more about speed than stamina. His ability to stay on the Derby trip remains uncertain.
LOS ANGELES
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Rating: 111
Unbeaten in three races, Los Angeles has impressed and yet to show extraordinary performances. He won the Group One Criterium De Saint-Cloud and the Derby Trial at Leopardstown. The form looks modest, but stepping up to a mile and a half should suit him, and he could have a bigger performance in him.
AMBIENTE FRIENDLY
Trainer: James Fanshawe
Rating: 111
Ambiente Friendly was a long shot for the Derby until his dominant win in the Lingfield Derby Trial. He excelled over 1m 4f without his usual hood and posted a near-record time. The form from that race is strong, with several notable horses finishing behind him. Concerns include his keenness and the switch from Callum Shepherd to Rab Havlin. The dry ground will be crucial for his chances.
CONCLUSION
With the final line-up limited to 20 runners for safety, the stage is set for an exciting Betfred Derby. The draw for stalls in Epsom town center will reveal the final positions, adding to the anticipation for this prestigious race. Even if this isn’t an American race, it will keep us entertained and informed, helping you be prepared with your Belmont Stakes Odds shortly.